Pak Taliban says no peace talks anytime soon

Islamabad: The Pakistani Taliban has said peace talks with government are on hold for the time being and will not happen anytime soon.

The statement from the banned organisation Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) came as they are still mourning the death of their deputy chief, Waliur Rehman Mehsud in a US drone strike.

According to the Express Tribune, TTP withdrew its dialogue offer to the new government a day after their spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan confirmed on May 30th that Waliur Rehman Mehsud was killed in the US drone strike in North Waziristan tribal region, along with six other militants.

Ehsan had alleged Pakistan`s cooperation with the US in the drone attacks, an allegation he reiterated when asked if the TTP is willing to talk to the PML-N government.

When asked if the PML-N government directly or through any mediator contacted the Taliban for talks, Ehsan said that no one has contacted them since the new government has taken over.
According to the report, Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said in Quetta that the government is ready to pursue its commitment to talk to those militants who want to talk.
However, he warned that the government will respond with force if the armed groups pursue `militancy and terrorism.`